Real Brownfields Deserve Dollars I
read with interest the story on Brownfield development dollars in the
July 20 issue. I applaud Dan Lathrop and other county commissioners who
voted “No” on the Randolph Street project...

Hopping Mad Carlin
Smith is hopping mad (“Will You Get Mad With Me?” 7-20-15). Somebody
filed a fraudulent return using his identity, and he’s not alone. The AP
estimates the government “pays more than $5 billion annually in
fraudulent tax refunds.” Well, many of us have been
hopping mad for years. This is because the number one tool Congress has
used to fix this problem has been to cut the IRS budget –by $1.2 billion
in the last 5 years...

Just Grumbling, No Solutions Mark
Pontoni’s grumblings [recent Northern Express column] tell us much
about him and virtually nothing about those he chooses to denigrate. We
do learn that Pontoni may be the perfect political candidate. He’s
arrogant, opinionated and obviously dimwitted...

A Racist Symbol I
have to respond to Gordon Lee Dean’s letter claiming that the
confederate battle flag is just a symbol of southern heritage and should
not be banned from state displays. The heritage it represents was the
treasonous effort to continue slavery by seceding from a democratic
nation unwilling to maintain such a consummate evil...

Not So Thanks I
would like to thank the individual who ran into and knocked over my
Triumph motorcycle while it was parked at Lowe’s in TC on Friday the
24th. The $3,000 worth of damage was greatly appreciated. The big dent
in the gas tank under the completely destroyed chrome badge was an
especially nice touch...

Letters 05-20-2013

Only one letter per reader in a two month period will be accepted. may be edited for length or to correct factual errors. Letters must be signed to be considered for print and a phone number is required for verification.

Public gets the bill

Re: “Helmets and Motorcycles,” Letters 5/13.

Six words to Matt Woodruff, who wrote:

“When a motorcyclist does not wear a helmet and sustains a fatal head injury, it will affect his family and others who depend on him, but the vast majority of people will be unscathed.”:

Taxpayers pay hospital if you can’t.

Janice Alexis Mekula • via email

The price of ‘liberty’

Mr. Woodruff omitted one potential outcome when a rider chooses not to wear a helmet (re: Letters 5/13).

If the rider survives an accident but with serious head injuries leading to lifelong disabilities that helmets have been shown to reduce or prevent, the rest of us must shoulder the costs in return for such “liberty.”

Jane Miller, RN • via email

Marijuana, the vulgar drug

Thousands of Americans die every year from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. That is why the federal government set up a bureau to regulate these products a century ago, but they still are legal to possess and use.

Thousands of Americans die every year from common pain medicines including the likes of aspirin, Tylenol and Motrin. These drugs are also regulated but they are legal to possess and use.

Thousands of Americans die every year from consumption of sugar and junk food. Thousands die from sporting activities, and thousands die from occupational hazards. There are some regulations on some things but they will always remain legal in a free society.

We can make lists of many mechanical, chemical and life-choices that are known to be harmful when used as intended and yet they are accepted and legal.

Now, compare the known risks of everything else we allow in America to the documented risks of marijuana use:

No one dies from marijuana use (even the “super potent” stuff grown today); No one gets addicted to marijuana; No one “progresses” to hard drugs from marijuana, (the drug experiences are different, and do not psychologically or physiologically connect).

The only true risk from using marijuana is a criminal arrest.

Why is that? Why is a benign and safe substance that can be grown almost anywhere, which can be safely enjoyed with very little health risk, and possible medicinal benefits outlawed?

Answer: Because it is a “vulgar” drug, just like some four-letter words are vulgar.

Check the historical definition of the word vulgar: “of, pertaining to, or constituting the ordinary people in society: the vulgar masses.” ... “the common people” Marijuana, like some words, is not acceptable to the elitist class of America. It is not acceptable to the “one-percent.” It is not acceptable to the ruling class because it is something the poor, the working class, the people of “We the People” can grow in a flower pot, enjoy, and not spend a lot of money to produce.

Legal marijuana won’t make anyone rich.

That is the only reason it is outlawed. Which makes me one of the vulgar masses, because I think our lawmakers are full of spit.

David Petrove • Interlochen

Kalkaska’s killjoys

Every
time I use the Kalkaska public library I think, “Wow, this place is
BUSY... and TINY!” Now, no thanks to Tom Backers and Citizens 4 Better
Government (whoever you are), it looks like Kalkaska won’t be updating
its inadequate, crumbling library.

Thanks,
once again, to all of you who continue to rant about marginal tax
increases that benefit the public good (taxes for roads, schools,
LIBRARIES, etc.), while you continue to USE those same public works!

Do
us all a favor – move down south to some redneck county, where they
allow you to opt out of paying your taxes for things like... oh... say
firefighting services. I’ll enjoy watching the YouTube video of your
house burning down, while the firefighters stand by and watch (since you
“opted out” of paying for their services – for real, this has
happened).

Until
then – why don’t you stop driving on our public roads, sending your
kids to our public schools, and quit using our public library? If you
won’t pay for public services, you shouldn’t be allowed to use them!

Scott Jones • Kalkaska

Found our rag...

I
recently had the great luck to pick up the May 6 issue in Elberta. I
was very impressed with the quality of the writing and the topics. That
issue contained some important information about fracking, including the
editorial, “Increasingly, Your Vote is Just a Joke in Lansing.”

My
frustration is that my husband and I live in the UP, Cedarville area,
and it seems the nearest place to pick up a copy would be in Mackinaw
City. What part of the newspaper is included in the “Extra”?

Thank
you for putting the paper on-line and in a searchable archive. Thanks
for putting out such a great publication and I look forward to picking
up an issue when and wherever I can.

Jan Reelitz • Cedarville

-- Thanks, Jan. The Extra is our new emailed newsletter that comes
out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It includes a weekend planner on
Wednesdays and a selection of new videos each week. You can sign up for
it at www. northernexpress.com. -- ed.

The tax on seniors

We people in the middle class sure are paying a very big price and will continue to pay as long as Gov. Snyder is in office.

He sure has hit the poor old folks hard.

Too bad he and the rest of his bunch don't have to foot their own bills. They take from the seniors and give to the CEOs.

He has torn up a lot of live in Michigan.

Might as well move out of this state.

George Christensen • Cheboygan

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